Jay's Brick Blog

A blog about LEGO bricks

  • Home
  • About Me
  • LEGO Reviews
  • News
  • 2023 LEGO Sets
  • 2022 Advent Calendars

Review: LEGO 40186 Year of the Pig

February 3, 2019 By Jay Ong 4 Comments

Chinese New Year is only days away, so it’s no better time to review what has become one of my favourite LEGO annual traditions – this year’s LEGO Chinese Zodiac Animal – the Pig!

For those that are unaware, the Chinese Zodiac is a system where each year is designated a particular Zodiac Animal, which goes around in a cycle of 12 years, unlike the Western Zodiac which rotates within a calendar year.

Since 2015, LEGO have released a special set commemorating the Chinese Zodiac – starting with the Year of the Sheep which I was all too eager to collect.

This year (2019) we get the Year of the Pig set which is now available as a limited edition gift with purchase through LEGO.com or LEGO Brand Retail Stores in the US and UK, or at Myer if you’re in Australia.

Here’s a short review of 40186 Year of the Pig!

Name: Year of the Pig
Set Number: 40186
Pieces: 152
Price: N/A (Set is a Gift With Purchase from LEGO to coincide with Chinese New Year
Exclusive to: LEGO.com / LEGO Brand Retail Stores / Myer (Australia)
Theme: Chinese Zodiac Animals
Release Date: January 2019

I really like collecting things, and I do love the idea that this is quite possibly the most challenging and (literally) time consuming themes to collect.

You literally have to wait 12 years to collect the entire Zodiac Animal theme, and I sure hope that LEGO keeps this up as I’ll be royally pissed if they cancel halfway.

As someone of Chinese descent, these sets much like this year’s Chinese New Year’s Eve Dinner mean a lot to me, and I am really glad that LEGO has invested in celebrating a big part of Chinese culture. This year’s Chinese Zodiac Animal, the Year of the Pig follows the same design cues as previous years.

It comes in a special commemorative box, which includes a red packet (more on that later), and a small but pretty substantial model featuring a cute Pig.

The boxes retain the same design elements such as the primary use of yellows and oranges. On the side is a big stamp that screams Limited Edition.

I also really like the extremely-obese pig on the Year of the Pig text. It looks like it’s going to explode at any moment.

Here’s a look at the back, which shows off the different ways you can articulate the model.

At the top is a four panel comic illustration, which gives you instructions on what to do if you’d like to incorporate this into your Chinese New Year tradition.

Here’s a look at the boxes of all 5 LEGO Chinese Zodiac Animal sets so far.

In the spirit of Chinese New Year, the set also includes a commemorative Red Envelope or Hongbao. 

For those that are unaware, Red Packets are handed out by married couples to unmarried individuals (mostly kids, but you can technically get them as adults) during the Chinese New Year.

These red packets contain money and are given as a gesture of prosperity and blessing.

As a kid growing up, I’d eagerly await Chinese New Year as you get a pretty significant amount of money which you could either spend or save, depending on how strict your parents were!

Here’s a look at the back, where you can see the envelope opening up to insert money into.

There’s also a golden embossed imprint of the Year of the Pig set, which looks great and makes it look extra fancy.

Here’s the completed model. Like previous years, the design identity remains mostly the same as you get a cartoonish take on the year’s Zodiac Animal.

The Pig is quite possibly the cutest animal in the Chinese Zodiac, and the designers have done a great job bringing it to life.

The vibrant pink bricks, large googly eyes and printed nose element all come together very nicely.

The Pig is seated atop a small base, which has some decorative flowers and foliage on it – making it look almost like a statuette.

One of the great things about these models is the level of articulation that the designers pack in.

The head swivels around on a turntable, the arms can swivel forwards and backwards, and the ears can also be positioned in different angles.

I have to say, the head spinning on the Pig is really smooth, and exceedingly satisfying.

Here’s a look at the Pig from behind. He has a curly pink tail which can also be rotated around – it cleverly recycles a pink tentacle from the Abilisk from the Milano vs Abilisk Guardians of the Galaxy 2 set.

Here’s a look at all the LEGO Chinese New Year Zodiac Animals released so far!

The series started in 2015 with the Sheep, followed by the Monkey, Rooster, Dog and now the Pig.

The Pig’s bright pink colour really makes it stand out from the rest of the animals, although I don’t think it beats the Year of the Sheep as it’s definitely the oddest looking one of the bunch.

Pigs are universally accepted as cute (and tasty) animals, so I’m glad it translated well into this form.

It’s also a great move from LEGO ensuring that there would be enough of these sets to go around, as most people have not had trouble securing them this time around, especially given its wider availability in the US, UK and beyond.

What I liked:

  • The Pig is really cute – all that pink helps it stand out
  • Plenty of fun articulation
  • Relatively easy to get

What I didn’t like: 

  • Not much at all!

Final thoughts: As a promo set within a long-running theme that has a defined look and feel, the Pig hits all the right spots for me.

It’s a fun, cute and memorable build that goes well with all the other LEGO Chinese Zodiac Animals released so far, with some neat little additions such as the printed pig’s nose-piece which was a great touch.

If you’ve been a long-time collector of these Chinese Zodiac Animals, or even if you’re new to them, you’ll most likely enjoy the Pig and more importantly, hopefully gain a greater appreciation for Chinese culture – which sets like this do a great job of accomplishing.

One of the things that I like about these models is that you even if you missed out on the previous year’s model, they are actually very easy to re-create as they use simple parts and no exclusive elements.

The pig might be a little tricky as he has a printed nose-piece, but hopefully it’ll be easily accessibly for future LEGO fans.

As a seasonal Chinese New Year set, the Year of the Pig is a lot of fun, and and possibly the best thing about this is how easy LEGO has made it to obtain it – unlike the other *cough* exclusive sets this year.

Rating: 4/5


Thanks for reading! Hope you enjoyed this short review! Let me know in the comments if you were able to get your hands on one and what you think of the LEGO Chinese Zodiac Animal theme!

Do you see yourself committing 12 years to collecting all the animals?

Don’t forget, you can find many more reviews in the Jay’s Brick Blog Review Hub!

To stay up to date on the latest posts, you can follow the Jay’s Brick Blog Facebook page or subscribe to receive email alerts for new posts! I also post behind the scenes content, and teasers on my Instagram page @jayong28, so give me a follow if you’d like to see more!

Subscribe to receive updates on new posts & reviews!

Until next time!

Filed Under: LEGO Reviews, Seasonal Tagged With: 2018, 2019, 4.5, 40186, chinese new year, chinese zodiac, exclusive, gift with purchase, lego, lunar new year, myer, review, seasonal, year of the pig

« LEGO Overwatch sets now available on Amazon Australia (plus some new 2019 deals!)
Happy Chinese New Year! Thoughts on how LEGO handled the Lunar New Year sets + Bonus Giveaway! »

Comments

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

  1. Amanda says

    March 1, 2019 at 9:48 AM

    I have these sets but am intrigued about the year of the snake set which seems to be very hard to buy. Is this part of the set or a scam?

    Reply
  2. Jandrew says

    February 9, 2019 at 6:31 AM

    I love all things PIG !
    This pig lego is great . I recently wrote a blog post on Fashion for the year of the pig.
    Great article .
    Jandrew
    Dress The Part
    https://jandrewspeaks.com

    Reply
  3. Hammerdragon says

    February 5, 2019 at 8:48 AM

    Picked up a couple of these at Legoland Chadstone, with purchases over $88.

    Reply
    • Jay says

      February 11, 2019 at 6:31 PM

      Nice one! Glad to see these were so easy to get!

      Reply

Welcome!

Hello and welcome to Jay's Brick Blog. In here, you'll find independent LEGO set reviews, commentary on LEGO trends & news, bargain hunting tips and an inside look into the life of an average LEGO fan. Find out more about me here

Subscribe for updates

Enter your email address here to receive updates about new posts from Jay's Brick Blog - straight to your inbox!

Join 4,311 other subscribers

Site Search

Buy LEGO

Buy LEGO

jayong28

Jay Ong | Jay's Brick Blog
Here's your chance to win a @lego 10316 Rivendell Here's your chance to win a @lego 10316 Rivendell set!

All you need to do is build your very own LEGO Fellowship, and give them a story, quest and their very own identities!

You could win some awesome prizes courtesy of LEGO, celebrating one of the greatest LEGO sets ever!

Hit the link in bio to learn more about how to enter, and to read the terms and conditions!

Entries close at 5pm AEDT, on 28 March 2023!

#lego #LEGOminifigures #minifigures #minifigs #legogiveaway #legolordoftherings #lordoftherings #legonews #legos #afol #rlfm
Did you know that Fiona, the @lego Friends florist Did you know that Fiona, the @lego Friends florist is one of the first minidolls depicted with Down Syndrome?

Fiona works at the flower stall on Unity Street from 41732 Friends Downtown Flower and Design Stores 

She is described as being 'good at crafts and decorating, and knows all the flower species by name.' 

It's World Down Syndrome Day today and I think it's remarkable and very important for LEGO to enhance the perspectives of children on neurodiversity, physical disabilities, ethnicity and mental health, as they've done with the LEGO Friends reboot. 

#lego #legofriends #worlddownsyndromeday #representation #dei #minidolls
🎈 Here's a closer look at the minifigures inclu 🎈 Here's a closer look at the minifigures included in the Up House - we have Russell, Carl Fredricksen and an awesome new mould for Dug!

(I think Dug is the best!)

Shame Kevin was left out, though! 

Hit the link in bio to read my full review!

#lego #disney100 #legodisney #up #pixar #legophotography #legoleaks #legoleaks2023 #legos #afol #rlfm #43217 #disney #legoreview #reviews #minifigures #LEGOminifigures
Here's my review of one of the most anticipate @LE Here's my review of one of the most anticipate @LEGO Disney sets - 43217 'Up' House ahead of its release on 1 April 2023!

This set is a dream come true for many Pixar fans, and we finally get a cute, compact and great looking Up House. 

It has plenty of references to the movie, and Carl's everlasting love of Ellie, his late-wife which will absolutely delight fans. 

Despite a strong lineup of minifigures (including an awesome Dug mould), the set's incredibly expensive pricetag (US$59.99/AU$89.99) doesn't feel like good value, especially with Kevin nowhere to be found. 

Hit the link in bio to read my full review!

Let me know what you think of this set, and if you're still planning to get it! 

#lego #disney100 #legodisney #up #pixar #legophotography #legoleaks #legoleaks2023 #legos #afol #rlfm #43217 #disney #legoreview #reviews
🐍 Snakes... Why did it have to be snakes? Her 🐍 Snakes... Why did it have to be snakes? 

Here are some shots of 77013 Escape from the Lost Tomb, which let's you recreate scenes from Raiders of the Lost Ark!

Indy, Sallah, and Marion break into the Well of Souls to retrieve the Ark of the Covenant in LEGO form, and this playset is packed with dynamic play features!

Priced at only US$39.99, this set is incredible value and a great way to get started with LEGO Indiana Jones! 

Hit the link in bio to read my full review!

Thanks to @lego for sending this set for review!

#lego #lego2023 #indianajones #legoindianajones #legoreview #rlfm #77013 #afol #legophotography #legos #legoleaks #legoleaks2023 #legonews
Having a great time building the new @lego Indiana Having a great time building the new @lego Indiana Jones and #Disney100 sets!

Look out for reviews and more content in the coming days!

Special thanks to LEGO for sending these review sets!

#lego #afol #rlfm #reviews #77013 #77015 #77012 #43217 #43212 #legodisney #indianajones #legoindianajones #Disney
Behold, the @lego 10317 Land Rover Classic Defende Behold, the @lego 10317 Land Rover Classic Defender 90!

This beautiful, boxy British icon will launch on 1 April and features the iconic @landrover Classic Defender in sand green!

Hit the link in bio to see more!

10317 Land Rover Classic Defender 90
🧩 2,336 pieces
💵 US$239.99 / AU$369.99 / £209.99
🗓 1 April 2023
🎨 Kurt Kristiansen

#lego #legoicons #landrover #landroverdefender #legonews #legoleaks #legoleaks2023 #lego2023 #rlfm #reveal #10317 #afol #legophotography
With the demise of 77014 Temple of Doom, it joins With the demise of 77014 Temple of Doom, it joins a very illustrious list of sets that have been cancelled by @lego.

Here's a list of some of the most famous cancelled LEGO sets in recent years!

⚠️Correction: 40489 Mr and Mrs Claus Living Room should be 2021, not 2012

Do you have any of these in your collection? 

Hit the link in bio to read the full feature!

#lego #legoindianajones #indianajones #afol #legonews #legoleaks #legoleaks2023
Very happy that Din Djarin finally gets a proper @ Very happy that Din Djarin finally gets a proper @lego Darksaber!

Fresh from Chapter 18: The Mines of Mandalore, LEGO has just announced 75361 Spider Tank featuring the menacing spider robot, Bo-Katan, Grogu and The Mandalorian!

Also dig Bo-Katan's snazzy arm printing! 

It will retail for US$49.99 and will arrive on 1 August 2023.

Hit the link in bio to see more!

#lego #LEGOstarwars #themandalorian #legoleaks #lego2023 #legoleaks2023 #starwars #minifigures #rlfm #reveal #75361
Load More... Follow on Instagram

Follow on Facebook

Jay's Brick Blog

2 hours ago

Jay's Brick Blog
Continuing on with our coverage of 2023 LEGO Speed Champions sets, Vaderfan has taken a detailed look at 76914 Ferrari 812 Competizione, one of his favourite cars from the 2023 wave!What a masterclass of LEGO Speed Champions and Ferrari design! ... See MoreSee Less

Review: LEGO 76914 Ferrari 812 Competizione - Jay's Brick Blog

jaysbrickblog.com

A detailed review of the LEGO 76914 Ferrari 812 Competizione, one of the best cars the March 2023 LEGO Speed Champions wave
View on Facebook
· Share

Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linked In Share by Email

Jay's Brick Blog

5 hours ago

Jay's Brick Blog
For those that missed out on the Hulkbuster deal, AG LEGO Certified Stores also has the Hulkbuster marked down 50%!lego.bricksmegastore.com/products/lego-marvel-hulkbuster ... See MoreSee Less

Photo

View on Facebook
· Share

Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linked In Share by Email

Jay's Brick Blog

21 hours ago

Jay's Brick Blog
Update: it's sold outFor those of us in Australia, the Dreamworld LEGO Certified Store has the big Hulkbuster for 50% off...Shipping might be add on a bit to the price... but it still makes it a worthwhile buy if this has been on your list. lego.dreamworld.com.au/products/hulkbuster ... See MoreSee Less

Photo

View on Facebook
· Share

Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linked In Share by Email

Recent Posts

  • Review: LEGO 76914 Ferrari 812 Competizione
  • Win a LEGO Rivendell set by building a LEGO Fellowship!
  • First look at the new Build a Minifigure (BAM) Q2 2023 selections, including a Unicorn Lion Knight!
  • Review: LEGO 43217 Up House
  • Review: LEGO 77013 Escape from the Lost Tomb
  • Pick a Brick Restock: Lion Knights, Black Falcons, Forestmen and more
  • Go off-road with LEGO 10317 Land Rover Classic Defender 90!

LEGO Reviews

Review: LEGO The Muppets Minifigures

Review: LEGO 75871 Ford Mustang GT

Review: LEGO 10252 Volkswagen Beetle

Review: 71245 LEGO Dimensions Adventure Time Level Pack

Review: LEGO 76245 Ghost Rider Mech & Bike

Review: LEGO 10298 Vespa 125

Review: LEGO 76075 Wonder Woman Warrior Battle

Categories

Archives

Jay

Jay is passionate about LEGO and the endless creative adventures made possible by this complex interlocking brick system.
Learn more →

Popular Posts

Privacy Policy

Copyright © 2023 · WordPress · Log in We may earn a commission when you use one of our offers/links to make a purchase.